“IT’S been absolutely massive.”
It’s not one of Racing Orange’s big ticket items, however, Monday’s TAB meeting at Towac Park has been inundated with interest from both metropolitan and country-based trainers, transforming a “meat and potatoes” meeting into a monster day for punters.
“The hard work is paying off,” Racing Orange chairperson Ellie Brown said.
“That’s such a wonderful show of support. To see the reputation of the track growing and the reputation of the committee growing, the track now is really starting to be known as one of the premier tracks in regional NSW.”
Such was the the magnitude behind the influx of nominations earlier in the week - 188 through eight races - Monday’s meeting has had another race added to it, taking the program out to nine races.
“There’s a good variety too,” Brown said looking at the trainers involved.
“We’re seeing some new faces that haven’t been before which is really exciting.”
There’s a host of Orange trainers in the running across all nine races, with the likes of Alison Smith, Lee Van Den Bos, Peter Stanley, Sylvia Szabo, Don Oakley and Brian Buckley a chance of winning sizeable amounts of prize money.
Returning is 2012 Orange Gold Cup-winning trainer Mick Miladinovic as well as renowned Canberra master preparer Con Karakatsanis.
The race to watch will be race six, the Thank You Towac Park Track Team Benchmark 65 Handicap (1000m) jumping at 3.38pm, with three local hopes, Our Danasinga (Van Den Bos), Heretothemoon (Szabo) and Side On (Smith), in the running.
The club’s next big meeting is on Melbourne Cup day, with a bumper program tipped to be matched by the crowd in attendance.
Brown said it was important race-goers started booking their functions at Towac Park sooner rather than later.
“We’ve had a lot of interest. Start organising your day now,” Brown urged.
Gates open at 12pm on Monday, with the first race jumping at 12.43pm.